Wisconsin-Report

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Paul Ryan Supported Koch Approved Tax Policies
Koch Brothers Have A History Of Pushing For Tax Policies That Help Their Bottom Line
In At Least Five Votes, AFP Opposed Raising Taxes On The Wealthy. According to AFP’s congressional scorecards for
the 111th and 112th Congresses, AFP took a position against raising taxes on high-income earners at least five times: 2012
Senate vote 184, 2012 Senate vote 251, 2010 Senate vote 258, 2010 Senate vote 259 and 2010 House vote 604. [AFP Scorecard
for the 112th Congress, 2/1/13; AFP Scorecard for the 111th Congress, 1/10/11]
David Koch’s 1980 Libertarian Ticket Proposed Halving Capital Gains Tax Rate. According to Clark For President
White Paper On Taxing And Spending Reduction, Page 10, “This proposal will also cut the capital gains tax in half, a major
step toward capital formation and economic growth. When the capital gains tax was increased a few years ago, receipts from
the tax actually declined. People made fewer investments in areas subject to capital gains taxation. When the rate was later cut,
tax receipts increased, and the U.S. savings rate went up. The rate reduction had a very positive impact on personal savings
and investment, producing greater capital formation and economic growth.” [Clark For President White Paper On Taxing And
Spending Reduction, Page 10, 1980]
Paul Ryan Has Fought For His Billionaire Friends
Ryan: Instead Of “Class Warfare,” We Should “Make This Country A Tax Shelter For Other Countries.” According
to the transcript of an interview of Rep. Paul Ryan with American Business Magazine, “I think we need to have a tax system
that makes America a haven for capital formation. Let’s make this country a tax shelter for other countries instead of having
other countries be a tax shelter for America. This would ultimately raise revenues and promote economic growth. The way we
should look at increasing revenues to the government should not be class warfare or a bigger than ever tax increase approach.
Economic growth comes from job creation and better economic growth policies that raise revenue through higher growth.
Lowering tax rates at a broader base of income brings in more revenues and would help us close our fiscal gap.” [American
Business Magazine, 8/1/11]
Paul Ryan’s Tax Reform Plan Centers On Reducing The Corporate Tax Rate And Keeping Capital Gains Rates
Low. According to Forbes, “While Ryan has previously demonstrated that he had the political will to push tax reform
through, as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, he might not have had the clout. Now, says Kumar, Ryan can drive the
conversation towards real tax reform and make it happen by scheduling and putting bills on the floor of the House. Tops on
Ryan’s list? Consolidating tax rates for all taxpayers; reducing the corporate rate; repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
(AMT) and keeping capital gains rates low.” [Forbes, 10/29/15]
Ryan, Like The Kochs Opposes The Minimum Wage
The Koch Brothers Have Fought Against Raising The Minimum Wage
As The Libertarian Candidate For Vice President, David Koch Advocated For Abolishing The Minimum Wage.
According to Vice News, “Both David and Charles were heavily influenced by Friedrich von Hayek's free-market bible The
Road to Serfdom, and further by the work of Robert LeFevre, an advocate for the abolition of government. David ran as the
Libertarian Party's vice presidential candidate in 1980, spending $2 million on the campaign. Among the party's goals were the
abolition of various federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the CIA, the SEC, and the Department of
Energy. The party also wanted to eliminate Social Security, minimum wage laws, gun control laws, and income taxes—
positions the Koch brothers still hold, to varying degrees.” [Vice News, 2/5/15]
Charles Koch Called The Minimum Wage “An Obstacle To Prosperity.” According to Forbes, “Now, as Obama renews
calls on Congress to boost the $7.25 federal minimum wage, elder brother Charles Koch is calling it an obstacle to prosperity.
On Wednesday, the Charles Koch Foundation wrapped up a four-week media blitz in Wichita, Kansas, home base of Koch
Industries, America’s second largest private company. This ad buy included a 60-second TV spot touting the U.S. as a onetime
world leader in ‘economic freedom’ that has lost its way.” [Forbes, 8/8/13]
Paul Ryan Said Raising The Minimum Wage “Hurts The Poor”